Modern Methods in Crop Protection Research

This handbook and ready reference highlights a couple of basic aspects of recently developed new methods in modern crop protection research, authored by renowned experts from major agrochemical companies. Organized into four major parts that trace the key phases of the compound development process, the first section addresses compound design, while the second covers newly developed methods for the identification of the mode of action of agrochemical compounds. The third part describes methods used in improving the bioavailability of compounds, and the final section looks at modern methods for risk assessment. As a result, the agrochemical developer will find here a valuable toolbox of advanced methods, complete with first-hand practical advice and copious examples from current industrial practice.

This handbook and ready reference highlights a couple of basic aspects of recently developed new methods in modern crop protection research, authored by renowned experts from major agrochemical companies. Organized into four major parts that trace the key phases of the compound development process, the first section addresses compound design, while the second covers newly developed methods for the identification of the mode of action of agrochemical compounds. The third part describes methods used in improving the bioavailability of compounds, and the final section looks at modern methods for risk assessment. As a result, the agrochemical developer will find here a valuable toolbox of advanced methods, complete with first-hand practical advice and copious examples from current industrial practice.

PREFACEPART I: Methods for the Design and Optimization of New Active IngredientsHIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING IN AGROCHEMICAL RESEARCHIntroductionTarget-Based High-Throughput ScreeningOther Screening ApproachesIn Vivo High-Throughput ScreeningConclusionsCOMPUTATIONAL APPROACHES IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCHIntroductionResearch StrategiesLigand-Based ApproachesStructure-Based ApproachesEstimation of Adverse EffectsIn-Silico ToxicologyPrograms and DatabasesConclusionQUANTUM CHEMICAL METHODS IN THE DESIGN OF AGROCHEMICALSIntroductionComputational Quantum Chemistry: Basics, Challenges, and New DevelopmentsMinimum Energy Structures and Potential Energy SurfacesPhysico-Chemical PropertiesQuantitative Structure-Activity RelationshipsOutlookTHE UNIQUE ROLE OF HALOGEN SUBSTITUENTS IN THE DESIGN OF MODERN CROP PROTECTION COMPOUNDSIntroductionThe Halogen Substituent EffectInsecticides and Acaricides Containing HalogensFungicides Containing HalogensPlant Growth Regulators (PGRs) Containing HalogensHerbicides Containing HalogensSummary and OutlookPART II: New Methods to Identify the Mode of Action of Active IngredientsRNA INTERFERENCE (RNAI) FOR FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS STUDIES AND AS A TOOL FOR CROP PROTECTIONIntroductionRNA Silencing PathwaysRNAi as a Tool for Functional Genomics in PlantsRNAi as a Tool for Engineering Resistance against Fungi and OomycetesRNAi as a Tool for Engineering Insect ResistanceRNAi as a Tool for Engineering Nematodes ResistanceRNAi as a Tool for Engineering Virus ResistanceRNAi as a Tool for Engineering Bacteria ResistanceRNAi as a Tool for Engineering Parasitic Weed ResistanceRNAi Safety in Crop PlantsSummary and OutlookFAST IDENTIFICATION OF THE MODE OF ACTION OF HERBICIDES BY DNA CHIPSIntroductionGene Expression Profiling: A Method to Measure Changes of the Complete TranscriptomeClassification of the Mode of Action of an HerbicideIdentification of Prodrugs by Gene Expression ProfilingAnalyzing the Affected Metabolic PathwaysGene Expression Profiling: Part of a Toolbox for Mode of Action DeterminationMODERN APPROACHES FOR ELUCIDATING THE MODE OF ACTION OF NEUROMUSCULAR INSECTICIDESIntroductionBiochemical and Electrophysiological ApproachesFluorescence-Based Approaches for Mode of Action ElucidationGenomic Approaches for Target Site ElucidationConclusionNEW TARGETS FOR FUNGICIDESIntroduction: Current Fungicide TargetsA Retrospective Look at the Discovery of Targets for FungicidesNew Sources for New Fungicide Targets in the Future?Methods to Identify a Novel Target for a Given CompoundMethods of Identifying Novel Targets without Pre-Existing InhibitorsNon-Protein TargetsResistance InducersBeneficial Side Effects of Commercial FungicidesConcluding RemarksPART III: New Methods to Improve the Bioavailability of Active IngredientsNEW FORMULATION DEVELOPMENTSIntroductionDrivers for Formulation Type DecisionsDescription of Formulation Types, Their Properties, and Problems during DevelopmentBioavailability OptimizationConclusions and OutlookPOLYMORPHISM AND THE ORGANIC SOLID STATE: INFLUENCE ON THE OPTIMIZATION OF AGROCHEMICALSIntroductionTheoretical Principles of PolymorphismAnalytical Characterization of PolymorphsPatentability of PolymorphsSummary and OutlookTHE DETERMINATION OF ABRAHAM DESCRIPTORS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO CROP PROTECTION RESEARCHIntroductionDefinition of Abraham DescriptorsDetermination of Abraham Descriptors: General ApproachDetermination of Abraham Descriptors: Physical PropertiesDetermination of Abraham Descriptors: ExamplesApplication of Abraham Descriptors: Descriptor ProfilesApplication of Abraham Descriptors: LFER AnalysisApplication of Abraham Descriptors: Generality of ApproachPART IV: Modern Methods for Risk AssessmentECOLOGICAL MODELING IN PESTICIDE RISK ASSESSMENT: CHANCES AND CHALLENGESIntroductionEcological